Minorities in Higher Education - Findings from the Condition of Education 1996

Minorities in the United States have long suffered lower economic prosperity and social status compared to the white majority. Higher education often serves as the best means of social mobility available to our nation’s youth. For example, graduating from college is associated with more stable patterns of employment and higher earnings. As the gap in earnings between high school and college graduates continues to widen, college has become even more important for minorities who are trying to enter into a globally competitive labor market. This report reviews the higher education aspirations and preparation, college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of minorities in comparison with the majority white population